by Renee Lindstrom, founder Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning
Embodied Mindfulness approach to personal change
Here is a life style map diagram of the the focus of attention in the learning topics at Inside Awareness. The intention of lifestyle learning patterns are for Human Flourishing.
Human Flourishing
Flourishing is a state of living optimally, in deep fulfillment and ongoing personal growth, beyond basic survival or simple happiness. Flourishing encompasses a sense of purpose, rich relationships, physical health, and resilience to adapt to challenges
The body reveals.
The mind interprets.
Awareness connects the two.
Recent Lifestyle Articles:
Goals: 2027 Manifesting through intention first before solutions
3. Article on Relationships: The fractals creating the words expressed from the speaker you are listening to suggests need to take caution before going into agreement with their perspective …
Minimalist line art emphasizing embodiment before strategy
Embodied somatic action harmonizes with cognitive focused strategies and increases conscious connection to motivation. It leads to clarity of motivation before action. This pattern increases the potential for successful outcomes in all life areas, and reduces inner and outer conflicted states. Leading with strategies indoctrinates self and others and reduces innovation, motivation and spontaneous outcomes. Embodiment cultivates awareness and increases possibilities for higher outcomes and experiences.
Cognitive StrategiesVs Somatic Awareness
Strategies are cognitive based upon beliefs, while somatic processing is a learning path of awareness. A cognitive based belief system can stunt a person’s perspective by its nature as it has a focus of attention in one or two life areas only. For example, if a person is only focused on wealth and its attainment, every action will be strategic to meet that need. Generally, there will be a lack of mindfulness through the experience. The experience will lack the balance and harmony that is born from lived mindful awareness. Without this mindfulness there can be perpetual states of conflict, inside and out. Conflicted states fanned by the flames of seeking ways to increase wealth. This can influence every aspect of living as this conflict is expressed through emotional behaviour, expression and physical action. It can extend to every relationship that begins with critiquing through the lens of how to use others to their advantage in growing greediness. Strategy focused actions usually led to winners and losers. Strategies born from beliefs lack conscious awareness of the intent in the present moment. Beliefs are the past, yet they control the present, the future. This pattern can lead to extreme actions and statements for justification, with the last attempt feeding the next.
The process of mindfully connecting to one’s inner motivation before strategies increases conscious awareness. This process is more likely to grow beyond a single minded focus such as in this example, to become wealthy. The isolation that comes with self perceived status can expand into a state of thriving, instead of striving, through the increased range of information that comes with inclusion. Achievement will not be at the cost of people, places and things and instead include consideration for them. Those who are strategy first decision makers are not eliminating somatic experiences, they simply have no control over it. Their focus on power and control is strategic and is without the abilities of self regulation. How can one self regulate an experience they are cognitively ignoring? Being led by uncontrollable somatic experiences can lead to conflict and harm, of self and to others. They may lack the discernment for recognizing they are living in a cycle of going from one catastrophic experience to the next. Often overlapping.
Embodiment before strategy is a learning pattern integrated into the program topics at Inside Awareness. Learn more about the lifestyle program topics.
Each of the programs offered at Inside Awareness has the potential to increase understanding and clarity of each of these 12 levels of consciousness in the Dimension Levels of Consciousness Map using practice steps of skill development in the patterns of actions for day to day activities in one’s lifestyle. These qualities bring optimism, hope, self love and esteem in ordinary life experiences initiating fulfillment and contentment. Learn more about the programs in the link below, under the maps 12 Level descriptions.
Get 12 Levels of Consciousness Poster – Poster Link
The mind focus origins in psychology uses Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to describe the levels of behaviour evolution. These 12 levels of consciousness uses a somatic focus to initiate cognitive mindfulness. The descriptions interprets the balance of the two intertwined dimensions: the body and the mind. This pattern is designed to come into alignment through somatic awareness versus the conceptualization of the cognitive attributes.
Each of the levels are described in the 12 Levels of Consciousness available on Amazon Kindle.
Listen to a meditation for the 12 Levels of Consciousness: below on YouTube
Another New Addition for integration is listening to music for integration. This playlist is selection that would be played on a radio station. Young and interactive day to day topics that align with integration of new behaviour postures and conditioning. Add it to your playlist if you enjoy a selection of different genera’s.
For example, When Separation Dissolves – refers to #8 in the Levels of Consciousness.
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A mindful journal to plan, reflect, and align with your highest self. The Lotus Flower Summer Weekly Embodiment Actions Journal is designed to support this journey.
Like the lotus flower, growth often emerges through challenge. Each page of this journal is an invitation to slow down, notice what matters, and take intentional steps toward the life you wish to create.
Inside these pages, you will find space to:
Set meaningful intentions
Track habits and progress
Reflect on emotions and experiences
Practice gratitude
Strengthen self-awareness
Align your actions with your values
This journal has been created through 26 years of experience integrating somatic awareness as support for understanding and increasing clarity in behaviour through movement, communication and listening. The cognitive behaviour and somatic behaviours are intertwined and this author practitioner and mentor has recognized a lack of balance and understanding between the two. Mainstream guided pattern focus in education has mainly been on cognitive function and not on somatic experience. Therefore, the somatic reactions can be out of control without the skills to keep impulse control in check. This is demonstrated through a lack of body connections to how the skeleton functions at the core patterns and in the inner processing of information due to limited filters of understanding. The guided patterns in this journal support the integration of balancing the interrelationships between the body and mind responses.
Below you will find two more somatic oriented activates that engage the mind through guided patterns. One is meditation and the other through sound.
Connect to learn more about Lotus Flower Embodiment Learning Series that integrates functional movement and mindfulness for converting out of balance reactions into conscious responses.
Listen to Meditation to support Lotus Flower Embodiment Series:
Listen to Music Playlist to support Lotus Flower Embodiment Series:
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by Renee Lindstrom, founder Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning
This blog article below was written on this author’s personal website http://www.reneelindstrom.com recently. It is from a perspective of a somatic empath that carries the ability to identify the authentic somatic experience and the cognitive conceptualization that those not in their somatic experience believe it is. No judgement, simply a gap this author is bringing focus to. You can read this article by clicking the article link below or listen on You tube at link below it. I hope this content will be of interest in those sincerely interested in actively going beyond what they think they know from societies conditioning in accepting the stories attached to their mental, emotional and physical states of being. The first step to breaking free of acceptance to labels, assessments, and moral judgements, etc., is having clarity on the separation that supports it.
Below are two earlier articles from this authors personal web site on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs from an interesting perspective that may be interesting to read after digesting and integrating this perspective from a somatic empath. Understanding this first stage will support how society is perhaps being misguided by this lack of clarity by those who are seeking to meet their needs without compassion and empathy for others.
If you would like to connectto learn moreabout educational opportunities, coaching, mentoring , consulting or functional integrations
Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Awareness Through Movement®, and Functional Integration®, are registered service marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of North America. Feldenkrais Method®
Copyrighted Property posted on Renee’s authentic accounts only:
by Renee Lindstrom, founder, Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning
Launching TMJ – Jaw Release #1 – Side to Side
TMJ Jaw Release Guided Pattern Audio #1/3
These guided patterns are from Feldenkrais workshop that Renee has held since 2007. The feedback after each workshop has been positive with appreciation expressed. Here is a recent comment from a ’26 workshop.
I always appreciate my sessions with you and the learning. The focus on the tongue, back of throat and head hinging as part of the jaw release has really made a difference. Some of what you shared was new for me so it is taking me awhile to get the hang of it but I’ve been exploring those movements further at home and it’s been good. J
These somatic patterns are called Awareness through Movement Lessons and this workshop series is the integration of of moving parts that enhance ease in the jaw function. The patterns cutivate awareness of the joint movement through micro movements that increase efficiency.
A student may become consciously aware of the individual parts inside their mouth and in their facial features, neck, and further down the torso. It is a wonderful way to find a deeper inner peacefulness, and experience the calming influence of mindfulness.
These lesson contribute to:
Reducing jaw and neck pain
Headache support through pain reduction
Increased jaw function
Lessen scienty, tension and stress
Improve Jaw Function
Enhance sleep and relaxation
Read more on the benefits of Somatic Body Mindfulness and research of Feldenkrais below
How to purchase and enjoy TJM Jaw Release – Side to Side
TMJ – Jaw Release Side to Side #1of 3
Explore the anatomy of the jaw using guided patterns and mindful exploration for cultivating awareness through the felt senses and the skeleton.
increase relaxation and windows of emotional tolerance and self-connection
improve sleep and sleep sounder
increase body functions, cognition and emotional responses of calm, mindfulness and joy
Exploring the body anatomy through the felt senses increases inner awareness and trust. This body exploration is a different type of strength training. The difference is the focus of attention on the body, mind and felt senses through guided patterns designed to expand conscious awareness of the body function. The strength of feeling one’s body through moving joints and bones deepens awareness of physical connections as postures change, like in the shifting transitions from sitting to standing and back to sitting. Movement is a series of shifting postures. The functioning healthy body is not stationary, nor poses. It is designed for a continuous flow of integrative movement patterns.
Feedback On Body Mindfulness Introduction
“I am excited!!! This is great! It is like you are there with me step by step. It’s what all of us are looking for, real Feldenkrais support” S
“That was great, Renee! You have such a calm and lovely voice. I’m happy to add this to my calming strategies.Thank you. ” H
“I really like this sort of thing and would welcome further “installments” in the series and/or a revised version of this one. I liked the pace at which you spoke, not too rushed and left enough time to do the exploration of the particular area of the body to which you were drawing attention.
I liked that you offered options re leg position (straight out or with bolster under knees) but wondered whether one position or the other is preferable. Or is it just that one would notice different things, depending on how the legs are positioned?” K
Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Awareness Through Movement®, and Functional Integration®, are registered service marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of NorthAmerica
by Renee Lindstrom, founder, Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning
Launching Somatic Body Mindfulness Series on Audio Video
Guided Somatic Patterns for Centering
Listen on Youtube audio – Authors Voice
Cultivating Awareness & Grounding through Body Mindfulness
Somatic Body Mindfulness is a series of guided movement patterns based upon the Feldenkrais® Method of Somatic Education through the perspective of Renee Lindstrom, GCFP ’07 . Renee has been teaching Lifestyle Models in the community since the mid-nineties, which has expanded her perspective, clarity and understanding of learning and aging.
These Somatic Body Mindfulness audio videos will align body, mind and emotions. These patterns will calm the nervous system and increase inner peace. With an increase in the felt sense of inner quiet, there is an increase of clarity in the felt sense movement patterns in the shifting body parts as they transition postures. This mindful connection to the movement and physical response in transition increases conscious awareness and organically integrates the pattern into movement behaviours.
Somatic Body Mindful guided patterns reduce tension, stress, anxiety, fear, frustration and anger and increase inner calm, peace and relaxation. SBM guided patterns support an increase in the range of motion and can reduce constraints that restrict movement.
The positive mental and physical functional outcomes of these SBM guided patterns increase clarity, focus, inner calm, mindfulness, stability and physical balance. These patterns will create a balanced alignment between the mental, emotional and physical functions. This alignment improves flexibility and spontaneity. The positive emotional outcomes are an increase of inner peacefulness, contentment, groundedness, connection and belonging.
Some of the conditions that SBM guided patterns that Renee has observed improve are:
Anxiety and Depression
Artheritis
Back and Neck Pain
Loss of Balance
Bell’s Palsy
High Blood Pressure
Shallow Breathing
Chronic Pain
Eating Disorders
Fibromyalgia
Lack of Flexibility
Hip, Knee and Ankle Joint Pain
Injuries
Insomnia
Pulled Muscles
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinsons
Locked Shoulders
Stroke
TMJ
Some of the Benefits that Research has shown are:
Improved:
proprioception
coordination and ease of movement
posture and stability
well-being
feeling of confidence
breathing
Decreased
pain
spasm
Research Evidence:
Improves:
body awareness: Multiple sclerosis, pain, stroke, able-bodied
mobility
stability
coordination
ease of movement
posture
balance confidence
mood
breathing
well-being and quality of life
sleep
self efficacy and health locus of control
self image
greater recruitment of the affected part of the motor cortex (stroke)
Reduces, decreases:
decreased pain
fatigue
anxiety and stress
medical costs
To learn more about this Research on the Benefits of Feldenkrais, go to the link in the description box and tap the link
How to purchase and enjoy this introduction to a grounding and centering somatic experience:
Introduction: Grounding thru Body Mindfulness
Experience Somatic Body Mindfulness by aligning felt sense observation and anatomy
Introduction to the anatomy using guided patterns and mindful exploration for cultivating awareness through the felt senses and the skeleton.
Use QR Code to Purchase or go below
Benefits:
reduce and reverse aging
increasing flexibility and resilience
develop body awareness
reduce body tension, pain, anxiety and effort
increase relaxation and windows of emotional tolerance and self-connection
improve sleep and sleep sounder
increase body functions, cognition and emotional responses of calm, mindfulness and joy
Exploring the body anatomy through the felt senses increases inner awareness and trust. This body exploration is a different type of strength training. The difference is the focus of attention on the body, mind and felt senses through guided patterns designed to expand conscious awareness of the body function. The strength of feeling one’s body through moving joints and bones deepens awareness of physical connections as postures change, like in the shifting transitions from sitting to standing and back to sitting. Movement is a series of shifting postures. The functioning healthy body is not stationary, nor poses. It is designed for a continuous flow of integrative movement patterns.
Feedback On Body Mindfulness Introduction
“I am excited!!! This is great! It is like you are there with me step by step. It’s what all of us are looking for, real Feldenkrais support” S
“That was great, Renee! You have such a calm and lovely voice. I’m happy to add this to my calming strategies.Thank you. ” H
“I really like this sort of thing and would welcome further “installments” in the series and/or a revised version of this one. I liked the pace at which you spoke, not too rushed and left enough time to do the exploration of the particular area of the body to which you were drawing attention.
I liked that you offered options re leg position (straight out or with bolster under knees) but wondered whether one position or the other is preferable. Or is it just that one would notice different things, depending on how the legs are positioned?” K
Feldenkrais®, Feldenkrais Method®, Awareness Through Movement®, and Functional Integration®, are registered service marks of the Feldenkrais Guild® of NorthAmerica
Inside Awareness Center for Integrative Somatic Learning 